Cake Man Raven Is Shuttered by the Health Department Once Again

Share

It’s déjà vu: Fort Greene’s red-velvet standby Cake Man Raven was closed by the Health Department a couple of years ago for using an unpermitted commercial kitchen for some of its cakes (mice droppings were also found), and on Wednesday, it was closed again. The inspection report cites “food from unapproved or unknown source or home canned” and/or “ROP foods prepared on premises transported to another site,” which indicates that proprietor Raven Patrick De’Sean Dennis III is likely once again in trouble for transporting slices from off site (no one is picking up at the store). Add to that, the Cake Man apparently couldn’t produce a food protection certificate or an operating permit. Meanwhile, in Manhattan, Market Table and BLT Steak recently racked up even more demerits than the Cake Man’s 78 (they scored a whopping 94 and 91, respectively), but both remain open for business, with grades still pending. Everyone’s favorite wedding-proposal spot, One if by Land, also rang up a surprising 64 demerits. Full reports below.

Sanitary Violations
1) Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan.
2) Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.
3) Hand washing facility not provided in or near food preparation area and toilet room. Hot and cold running water at adequate pressure to enable cleanliness of employees not provided at facility. Soap and an acceptable hand-drying device not provided.
4) Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
5) Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.
6) Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.
7) Non-food contact surface improperly constructed. Unacceptable material used. Non-food contact surface or equipment improperly maintained and/or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit.

Update: The Local quotes an employee who says pay days have been “shifty” lately, the water was recently turned off, and “our permit wasn’t renewed, our certificates saying we were allowed to handle food were fake.” [NYT/The Local]